Yeah, Denver defends much better than those Bucks, but it also can be argued that the Bucks had better offensive players. Big Dog, Jesus Shuttleworth and Sam-I-Am were way better than there Nuggets counterparts.

That's a good thing about George Karl, he gets the best of the players he has in every team.

Najera is a foul machine, he's used as a kamakazi player who doesn't even average a full block or a full steal a game... not really anybody who I'd refer to as "a stopper"...

Boykins is a speedy playmaker... a Mugsy Bogues for the new century, but I'd hardly call his 0.7 steals a game average for Denver these past 2 seasons anything to brag about. Labling him a defensive player isn't true.

And Demarr Johnson also only averages 0.4 blocks and 0.6 steals in 20 minutes of playing time. Very, very average numbers... also another person mislabled with the title "defender".

Every player listed averaged less than a steal and less than a block. I stand by my statement; Denver has no defenders that aren't already starting at the 4 and 5 (and those two are one-dimensional on D, too!)

You are right, it's not fair what Bowen gets away with. The Nuggets are a very good team and though some people don't like them, they have to be given credit for what they did last season and they should not be counted out until this season is over

Earl Boykins is NOT Bruce Bowen. Watching them play shows it all, migya. Bowen applies pressure and plays a team defensive game making the opposing team's chemistry hard to flow, while Najera, Boykins, and Johnson simply guard their men like Jason Richardson would... they're not special, despite your point about numbers not showing the whole game being right. Statistics alone can't tell the game, but I've seen the Nuggets play... and I dunno if you have (no offense, I'm not trying to throw it in your face like other people on the board, I'm just saying it as an example)... and the Nuggets don't have ANYONE who can play a well-rounded, defensive game. Like I said, Camby and Martin block shots. No pressure, no steals, no disruption to the flow. It's not a good defensive team... and there's no way to argue that.

Well, Denver played really good defense with most of those players (no K-Mart or Dermarr, but the others were there) in Bzdelik (sp?) last season. Not everyone, as Carmelo's D (it was his rookie season) was painful to see (still is), but it was a good defensive team. Not great, just good.

If I remember well (which is a huge if), they were one of the better defenses (statistically at least) that year. They certainly were impressive in the few games I saw, I may've been lucky to pick their best defensive outings, tho.

I think you may have been; I recall Denver around the middle as far as defensive teams. Not as bad as the Warriors, but not far away, either. Definately improved after the arrival of Karl, but not a big enough amount.